Konkel Park Ice Skating: Grant Helps With Free Ice Skate Rentals

GREENFIELD, WI — The City of Greenfield Parks and Recreation Department received a $1,000 grant from AARP Wisconsin that will help to maintain free ice skate rentals at the Konkel Park ice rink when it opens this season.

Recreation Supervisor Mikayla Schwab, who applied for the grant, said in a news release the money will allow the parks and recreation department to purchase about 20 pairs of new ice skates so more people will have an opportunity to enjoy free skating.

"We really do appreciate this grant. We thrive on making opportunities possible for all community members to come and enjoy free services like this," Schwab said. "We’re very excited."

The grant comes after years of wear and tear to the ice skates that were previously donated to the seasonal Konkel Park rink. Those skates, which have been a mainstay of the free-skating program, are starting to fall apart, the news release said.

The free skates are offered on a first-come-first-served basis, and there are limited sizes available, so the rink recommends that people bring their own skates for the free outdoor rink if possible. The free skate supply is set to see a small boost though, as Schwab told Patch the grant allows the rink to purchase new pairs of skates in sizes they are short on.

The $1000 grant is part of AARP Wisconsin's monthly "Small Dollar, Big Impact" program. Judges selected the proposal from Greenfield after reviewing dozens of proposals from across the state, according to the organization's news release.

The grant's announcement comes before an opening date for the rink's 2021-22 season has been set, and after some tricky December weather that hasn't been helpful for maintaining ice.

After warmth and winds, an opening date has yet to be set for the rink at Konkel Park. Schwab said it's a matter of simply waiting for the outdoors to freeze, as the ice rink has no other means of staying frozen.

Dec. 15 and 16 brought record-breaking temperatures to the Milwaukee area and across Wisconsin. According to the National Weather Service, temperatures on those days for parts of Milwaukee were into the high 60s. Parts of the state even saw temperatures into the lower 70s, the NWS said.

The "historical event" that brought the high temperatures also brought strong wind gusts, NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan reported, and parts of the state more inland from Lake Michigan were put under a tornado watch.

Leaders from AARP Wisconsin commended the ice skate grant proposal in its news release.

"This project fits perfectly with the spirit and intent of the Small Dollar, Big Impact grant program," said AARP Wisconsin Interim State Director Christina Fitzpatrick in the news release. "Our goal is to support communities as they make positive changes that inspire long-term progress on livable issues. This proposal hits that nail right on the head."

More information about the Dan Jansen Family Fest Rink that provides free outdoor ice skating can be found on the City of Greenfield's website.